Talk:Kermesse (bicycle race)

Kermesse versus critermium
I'm pasting the below paragraph from the article page. It seemed more appropriate here than the article itself. Aleta  Sing 21:01, 9 December 2008 (UTC)

As time goes on, language changes. Sometimes this is subtle as is the case with the usage of Kermesse (or Kermisse) and Criterium. In the cycling community in various countries, a Kermesse is a different race to a Criterium. A Criterium is a short circuit road race conducted on either public roads, closed or controlled for the purpose of conducting the race, or purpose-built, off-street circuits of anything from 600 metres to 2 kilometres in length per lap and is run on time rather than distance. So, a Criterium race might last for 60 minutes at which time the competitors are given a designated number of laps to the finish which is usually three laps with the bell being rung on the commencement of the final lap. A Kermesse, on the other hand, is also a short circuit road race held mostly on public roads, closed or controlled for the purpose of conducting the race, with circuit lengths greater than Criteriums and can be anything from three kilometres up to five, six or seven kilometres in length. The Kermesse is generally run on distance like a traditional road race with a designated number of laps to be completed. During a Criterium, a competitor who suffers from a "recognised mishap" (a puncture or a fall being the most common - in any event being an occurrence beyond their control and excludes incidents resulting from poor bike maintenance) may, within one lap of the incident and after reporting to the officials and rectifying the problem, rejoin the race without penalty at any point in the race apart from the last five kilometres of the race. As it is run on distance, no such option is available during the conducting of a Kermesse. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Abondeson (talk • contribs)